Ore. university board bid hits snag

A push by two of Oregon’s largest universities to break free from the statewide university system has run into an obstacle amid renewed opposition from some of the smaller, regional schools.

University of Oregon and Portland State University insist that they can bring in big checks from donors and elevate their prestige if they can loosen the chains that tie them to the State Board of Higher Education. After initially opposing the idea, Ore­gon State University said it might be interested in similar independence.

Some of the regional schools, however, worry that they’ll be left with higher bills and less flexibility if the big schools begin reporting to their own local governing boards. The regionals are now asking for similar independence.